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Networking

WiFi Range

Range Issues?

Range can be an issue when having trouble Connecting or Staying Connected.

The best place to start in a situation like this is to find the Signals decibel strength (db).

You would like to be under -58 for optimal use. when you start to see -70's and -80's you will see disconnects along with loss of access. Even in this situation the controller will still water. If the controller remains disconnected for the internet for 5-7 days it will no longer have any forecast data and will resort to a 10 Year Historical Average.

Can be used to extend the Range of your network and typically will need to be placed at the edge of your WiFi network where it still has a good signal with the main Router. It will then Rebroadcast a stronger signal, extending the range of your WiFi Network. (Note: WDS can cause loss of packets, in this situation you would need to disable "Local Discovery" and use Remote/Cloud access from apps.)

Typically connects via a Ethernet Cable to your router. This can be more convenient depending on the distance and the ability to run an Ethernet Cable.

USB Extension Cable

If you are right on the verge of having a good signal and only need a few more feet, its possible to unplug the USB antenna from the 12 and 16 zone models and extend the distance with 3 to 25 foot USB Extension cable.

Unit Placement

Unit placement can play a major role in Range and Signal Strength. Before installing or moving the RainMachine its good to plug it in first and see what Signal Strength you have in that spot. Also be aware of dense objects since these will bounce the WiFi signal, like brick walls.